A record high number of private-sector executives and chief scientists have been shortlisted this year to compete for academicianship in China’s top institute for engineering science and technology.
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Nineteen are included on the newly released candidate list for the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), including Hu Guoping, 48, principal researcher and co-founder of AI specialist iFlyTek; Wu Kai, 57, chief scientist and co-president of battery manufacturer CATL; Lian Yubo, 61, chief scientist of carmaker BYD; Jia Zhenhua of Yiling Pharmaceutical; and Xu Xun, chief researcher at genomics company BGI Group.
The other 14 are scattered across cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, new energy, and biopharmaceuticals, the newly unveiled list shows.
“The move demonstrates the country’s high recognition of the scientific and technological innovative capabilities of private enterprises,” the CAE said in its 2025 guidelines for selecting new academicians.
The CAE, which plays a role similar to that of the National Academy of Engineering in the United States, selects new members every two years, with the vast majority coming from universities, state-backed institutes and state-owned enterprises.
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This year, about 600 were nominated to compete for no more than 100 new seats.
The institute said earlier this year that eight seats would be reserved for leading private technology companies.